For me, the relative-by-marriage title ‘In-Law’ has always sounded somewhat less-than, separated from me. Never been a fan of the term but would use it in appropriate context, until recently.

My parents both passed-away three years ago. At that time Irene said to me that I was an orphan. I guess I was. That fact alone made me sad. When Irene passed-away last June my ‘credentials’ were again modified to include Widower. Now, I am an orphan and a widower. I don’t like what those words mean, they are both so lonely.

My relationship with Irene’s parents has grown since Irene’s passing. Something I would not have imagined to occur. But her parents are my connection to her entire life, not simply the 45 years (in total) that I was with her. Eddie and Frances have always been supportive and loving, and when Irene was ill, they were with me nearly every day at the hospital.

I have no living biological parents, but I still do have ‘parents’ I can count on. They are not my in-laws, they are my loving in-parents.